Topper stand protecting device



May 1s, 1937.l F, mf, JR 2,080,445

TOPPER STAND PROTECTING DEVICE Filed June 9, 1956 ATTORNEY Patented May 18, 1937 PATENT OFFICE TOPPER STAND PROTECTING DEVICE Francis Tait, Jr., Philadelphia, Pa., assignor to Howard Hosiery Company, Sinking Spring, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application June 9, 1936, Serial No. 84,289

3 Claims.

My invention relates to a new and useful protective device for topper stands, of the type ordinarily used in the manufacture of hosiery, to prevent damage to the body of the stocking during the manufacture thereof which is caused-by the heretofore universally prevalent defect in the construction of topper stands.

Topper stands now on the market and utilized in the manufacture of full-fashioned hosiery are assembled especially along the front or operative side thereof Vby means of screws, the sharp edges of which snag the fine threads of the stocking thus causing runs and cuts therein, this cause of damage increasing with the life of the machine since, every time the screw heads are engaged by the tip of the screw driver, the screw heads are mutilated thus acquiring additional sharp points which snag and damage the stocking. It has been my experience, in years of knitting hosiery, that a very large number of stockings are damaged in the process of manufacture from this one cause, such damage running, in the aggregate, into considerable sums of money.

It is therefore the object of my invention to provide means for protecting the stocking from snagging with the screws in a topper stand during the manufacture of the stocking and thus completely eliminates excessive waste and loss heretofore sustained.

In the accompanying drawing:

Fig. l represents a diagrammatic, perspective view of the conventional topper stand, showing the position of the stocking in dotted lines.

Fig. 2 represents a view similar to Fig. l of a topper stand equipped with a protective device embodying my invention.

Fig. 3 represents a perspective view of a part of my protective device.

Fig. 4 is a section on line 4--4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 represents a perspective View of another part of my protective device.

Fig. 6 represents a section on line 6-6 of Fig. 5.

Referring to the drawing in which like reference characters indicate like parts, I designates a topper stand which includes a housing 2 secured to the stand by the screws 3. 5 designates a point bar used in topping and secured by the screws 6. As seen in Fig. l, the stocking 1 hangs from the point bar 5 and the fragile body thereof snags on the heads of the screws 6 even when the screws are new, but even more so after the screw heads have been roughened by manipulation of the screw driver thus causing runs and rips in the body of the stocking as shown by the threads 8 on the screws 3 and 6.

In my prior Patent No. 2,037,097, I disclosed and claimed a new form of safety point bar which presents an externally smooth surface to the body of the stocking and thus prevents snagging, but the safety point bar referred to is only useful for replacement when the occasion arises, and in order to shield and protect point bars and topper stands now on the market I have devised a protective device consisting of the members 9 and I@ which are provided with the front walls I I and l2, respectively, and the side and end walls I3 and I4, respectively. The protective devices 9 and lil present externally smooth surfaces, as shown at l5 and I6, and are secured in position to cover the screws 6 and 3, respectively, in any suitable manner such as the counter-sunk screws I9 and 2B. The protecting device 9 may be provided with the alternate openings 2| and 22 through either of which the counter-sunk screws may be inserted to fasten the protecting device in position either through its front face, or through its ends. The protective device I0 may also be provided with the alternate holes 23 and 24 for the same purpose. It will thus be seen that the protective devices 9 and I El (whether they be secured through the holes 2i and 23 or 22 and 24, respectively), present an externally smooth surface over which the body of the stocking 'I slides and prevent all Contact of the stocking body with the screws 6 and 3 of the topper stand thus completely eliminating all damage and effect a great saving in the cost of production. 'Ihe screws I9 and 29 are counter-sunk suiiiciently to prevent any possible contact with the body of the stocking, and when they are placed through the side holes 22 or 24 they are completely out of the path of the stocking and need not be counter-sunk.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. The combination with a topper stand the parts of which are secured together by fastening devices which normally tend to snag and damage the body of a stocking, of a protective shield presenting an externally smooth surface and secured to said topper stand in registration with and to cover said fastening devices to prevent their contact with the body of said stocking.

2. The combination with a topper stand the parts of which are secured together by fastening devices which normally tend to snag and damage the body of a stocking, of a protective shield presenting an externally smooth surface and secured to said topper stand in registration with and to cover said fastening devices to prevent their contact with the body of said stocking, said 5 protective shield being secured to said topper stand by means inaccessible to and out of the path of said. stocking body.

3. The combination with a topper stand including a point bar and a support therefor secured to said topper stand by a series of screws, of protective shields presenting an externally smooth surface and secured to said topper stand in registration with and to cover said screws to prevent snagging of the stocking body With said screws.

FRANCIS TAIT, JR. 

